SUMMER 2020
Bookings are subject to change, call to confirm.
View the jazz venues map.
TO OUR JAZZ FANS:
Due to COVID-19, live events usually listed on this calendar have been cancelled indefinitely except for virtual concerts and two venues listed below. Please call to confirm.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Michele Robins
Editor, KJZZ
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Venues Currently Open
La Locanda, 6830 E 5th Ave, Suite 108, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, (480) 284-6511, lalocandaaz.com, 5-8 pm Thurs, Jackie Lopez with the Nuance Jazz Trio
Voodoo Daddy's Steam Kitchen, 1325 W Elliot Road, Suite 106, Tempe, AZ 85284, 480-659-6415, voodoodaddy.com, 5:30-8:30 pm, Fridays, Cheryl Thurston's Swing Memories Band
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Virtual Concerts
The Nash At Home – ONE MORE TIME – July 8 - August 8, 2020
Live on Facebook Saturdays, 6:30 pm: THENASHJAZZCLUB
Wed July 8 – NOLAz – New Orleans Style
Recorded July 21, 2019 Ted Belledin-piano/saxophone, Simone Sanchez-vocals, Kevin Tangney-trumpet, Benjie Messer-trombone, Marcus Williams-guitar, Sam Smith-bass, Janet Daniel-drums NOLAz Band plays jazz infused groove and soul music from NOLA: New Orleans, LA. From The Neville Brothers to Allen Toussaint, The Meters to Galactic, and Dirty Dozen Brass Band to Trombone Shorty, there is a particular musical character that stems from New Orleans. NOLAz Band channels this energy and brings a little NOLA to Arizona in this joyful show.
Sat July 11 – Kristin Korb Trio
Recorded March 17, 2019 Kristin Korb-bass/vocals, Andy Langham-piano, Duncan Moore-drums Steeped in the groove stomping tradition of her mentor Ray Brown, Korb departs with her own reflections of the Great American Songbook to tell stories in a warm, surprising, and approachable style. “Kristin Korb is a jewel of jewels. The bassist and vocalist commands both of her instruments with panache, engaging them simultaneously with an ease comparable to breathing.” All About Jazz. Teamed up with her co-conspirators Andy Langham (piano) and Duncan Moore (drums), Korb continues her pursuit of innovative mainstream jazz at its absolute best with compelling style and virtuosity.
Wed July 15 – Nick Manson with Gerry Gibbs
Recorded July 20, 2019 Nick Manson-piano, Fred Forney-trumpet, Dwight Kilianbass, Gerry Gibbs-drums This show brings together three of the Valley’s most respected musicians led by talented jazz pianist and composer, two-time Emmy award winner, composer, arranger, and producer Nick Manson. His piano playing is swinging, lyrical, consistently innovative, and always individual. Grammy nominated drummer, producer, band leader, composer and arranger Gerry Gibbs has released 12 albums, including Gerry Gibbs’ Thrasher Dream Trio with jazz luminaries Ron Carter and Kenny Barron. Complimented by the musicality, spirit and energy of Forney and Kilian, this show is a gas!
Sat July 18 - Francine Reed!
Recorded Dec 2, 2018 Francine Reed-vocals, Stan Sorenson-guitar, Joel Robin-piano, Felix Seinz-bass, Dowell Davisdrums. Special guests: Chuck Hall-guitar; Diana Lee-vocal No one captures an audience quite like Francine! From the mid-1970s through the early 90s, Francine reigned as the most popular jazz and blues vocalist in the Valley. She has been part of Lyle Lovett’s Large Band since the mid 80’s; appeared on multiple times on The Tonight Show; and performed for many seasons in Seattle’s high-energy dinner-theatre cabaret, Teatro ZinZanni in her amazingly diverse and exciting career! This show features a guest performance by Arizona Blues Hall of Famer Chuck Hall, who has won the heart and accolades of fans and critics throughout his electrifying five-decade career, and a cameo appearance by Valley-favorite vocalist Diana Lee. This show is guaranteed to uplift your spirits!
Wed July 22 – Bruce Gates: The Brecker Brothers Project
Recorded Jun 29, 2019 Bruce Gates-trumpet, Paul Brewer-alto sax, Adam Roberts-tenor sax, Nick Manson-keyboards, Jeff Lauffer-guitar, Mike King-bass, John Lewis-drums, Joe Garcia-percussion The Brecker Brothers Project was formed to present the incredible music of the seminal 70’s fusion band formed by Randy and Michael Brecker. “The kind of pivotal role played by Bird in bebop, or Miles in modal improvisation, is similar to that played by the Breckers vis a vis jazz-funk” – Chuck Berg, Jazz Times. Like its namesake, the Project is a veritable “Super-band” of Valley virtuosos who do justice to Brecker classics like Some Skunk Funk, African Skies, Sponge, Grease Piece, King Of The Lobby, Funky Sea Funky Dew and many others. If you are a fan of horn-driven bands, this Brecker tribute will light you up!
Sat July 25 – Juli Wood and the Mike Kocour Trio
Recorded Feb 22, 2020 Juli Wood-sax, Mike Kocour-B3 organ, Jeff Libman-guitar, Dom Moio-drums Chicago-based Juli Wood is an accomplished alto, tenor, and baritone saxophonist who loves to sing! She has entertained around the world at jazz festivals and clubs and has performed extensively throughout the Midwest. “(Juli) Wood…owns a big and burly tone on tenor, her husky sound, deep rhythmic accents and prolific phrasemaking consistently commanding attention.”– HOWARD REICH, CHICAGO TRIBUNE. This show is one of a few joyous musical reunions with fellow-Chicagoan Mike Kocour, aided and abetted by swinging bandmates Libman and Moio.
Wed July 29 – Frank Smith & Friends Play Horace Silver
Recorded Dec 1, 2018 Frank Smith-sax/flute, Denny Monce-trumpet. Mark DeCozio-piano, Mike King-bass, Dom Moio-drums Longtime Valley favorite Frank Smith and an all-star band to pay tribute to the legendary Horace Silver, who was a key architect of the popular bebop offshoot known as “hard bop”, which absorbed elements from blues and gospel music and evolved in the early 50s to dominate modern jazz. Frank Smith and company perform solid arrangements of Silver favorites like Song for My Father, Nica’s Dream, The Jody Grind and Peace, along with just the right amount of commentary to make this show as informative as it is authentic and entertaining. Sat Aug 1 – Karrin Allison Recorded Feb 14, 2020 Karrin Allison-vocals, Miro Sprague-piano, Jeff Johnson-bass Five-Time Grammy Nominee Karrin Allyson and her trio put on a remarkable show for Valentine’s Day at The Nash, with songs from a variety of genres including bossa nova, blues, bebop, samba, jazz standards and the Great American Songbook. With 12 original studio albums for the Concord Jazz label to her credit, Allison has also recorded serious vocal performances of several instrumental jazz compositions, including a duet with legendary bebop vocalist Jon Hendricks on Horace Silver’s tune Strollin. Karrin Allison is ‘the real deal’ and we invite you to fall in love with her for the first time or all over again on this show.
Wed Aug 5 – Union32 Quintet Interprets The Rolling Stones
Recorded Dec 6, 2019 Keith Kelly-tenor saxophone/flute, Adam Roberts-tenor & soprano saxophone, Brett Reed-vibraphone, Bailey Zick -upright bass, Ryan Anthony-drums & cymbals Led by vibraphonist Brett Reed, this show offers thrilling creative jazz arrangements of tunes from The Rolling Stones 1971 album, Sticky Fingers. The tunes range from the country-inspired Wild Horses to the gut punch that is Brown Sugar. A different and great show!
Sat Aug 8 – Dmitri Matheny Celebrates Art Farmer
Recorded March 16, 2019 Dmitri Matheny-flugelhorn, Mary Petrich-tenor saxophone, Angelo Versace-piano, Dwight Kilian-bass, Dom Moio-drums Join flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny (“a jazz treasure”—All Music Guide) and his all-star band as they pay tribute to jazz legend Art Farmer in celebration of his 90th birthday. Art Farmer spent his formative years in Phoenix before launching his storied career and becoming “the bebop master who defined the sound of the flugelhorn in modern jazz” (All Music Guide). Matheny vaulted onto the jazz scene in the 1990s as the protégé of Art Farmer, whose copper-belled flugelhorn was left to him by the jazz master and he plays to this day.
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ORGANIZATIONS
Jazz in Arizona (JIA) is a non-profit community arts organization whose mission is to encourage the local performance and appreciation of Jazz music - America’s great original art form. 602-750-7045 or thenash.org
Arizona Classic Jazz Society is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of classic (traditional) jazz, one of America´s original art forms. The Society sponsors monthly concerts and the annual Arizona Classic Jazz Festival, It has a scholarship program to support promising young musicians and reaches out into schools by presenting instructive live jazz performances. P.B.M. 204 9666 E. Riggs Road, Suite 114, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248-7410 Tel : (602) 922-7741 www.azclassicjazz.org
Phoenix Blues Society supports local and national music, Blues culture and heritage, arts education, and more. Monthly membership meetings are held at area local clubs on the second Wednesday evening of every month, followed by live music. www.phoenixblues.org
Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation is an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to creating an active and vital Blues and Heritage scene through promotion of live performances, education and raising awareness of the music and culture in southern Arizona. azblues.org
Tucson Jazz Society is devoted to promoting and preserving America´s original music--jazz. The Society seeks to assure continuity of this music through concerts, festivals, media activities and youth programs. A major emphasis is to provide work for instrumentalists and vocalists through society-sponsored activities and joint ventures with allied cultural, educational, and commercial organizations throughout southern Arizona. tucsonjazz.org
Prescott Jazz Society is dedicated specifically to assisting, advancing, supporting, promoting, and advocating the development and enjoyment of jazz music in northern Arizona. pjazz.org
